Lamb Smith cooking doesn't require starter (4)
I believe the answer is:
elia
'lamb' is the definition.
(pseudonym of essayist Charles Lamb)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for elia that I've seen before include "1A [SHEEPISH] part of 26 [LAMB-DA]" , "Essays of - (Charles Lamb)" , "Pen-name of essayist Charles Lamb" , "Charles Lamb's pen name" , "Pseudonym adopted by Charles Lamb" .)